Join the movement to provide essential food assistance to New York immigrants
Our state leaders have the power to make our food safety net more equitable and inclusive. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest and most impactful anti-hunger program in the United States, providing nearly 3 million New Yorkers with an average benefit of $6.20 per day. However, DACA recipients, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, undocumented immigrants, and certain visa holders are currently excluded from SNAP, due to their immigration status. By removing immigrant exclusions, we can ensure that every New Yorker has the food they urgently need.
SNAP4All New York is a statewide policy advocacy campaign to secure a state investment to provide food benefits to all income-eligible New Yorkers who are excluded from SNAP due to their citizenship status.
barriers to SNAP Access
SNAP has been proven to not only enhance food security but also improve health outcomes, stimulate local economies, and reduce poverty. However, roughly 800,000 New Yorkers are excluded from SNAP for no other reason than their citizenship status. Federal law limits SNAP participation to U.S. citizens and certain lawfully present non-citizens, such as refugees, asylees, and victims of trafficking. Other lawfully present non-citizens— including Green Card holders and victims of domestic violence—are subjected to arbitrary 5-year waiting periods before they can access benefits. Outright exclusion is the case for groups including visa holders and individuals granted Temporary Protection Status. Despite contributing nearly $2 billion in state and local taxes per year, DACA recipients and undocumented New Yorkers are also ineligible for SNAP benefits.
Recommendation: New York State should create a state-funded SNAP program for all income-eligible New Yorkers who are excluded from SNAP due to citizenship status
Food is a basic human right and all New Yorkers deserve equal access to vital food assistance. Arbitrary barriers and purposeful exclusions contribute to disproportionately higher rates of poverty and food insecurity experienced by immigrant households. Noncitizens are nearly twice as likely to be food insecure compared with U.S.-born and naturalized citizens, according to research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM). To address this issue, we urge State policymakers to implement a SNAP for All program in New York. This program would provide food benefits to low-income households currently ineligible for SNAP due to their citizenship status, equal to the benefits provided for similarly situated SNAP-eligible households.
We recognize the value that all New Yorkers bring to our state, as contributors to our rich and diverse culture, as members of our collective workforce, and as our fellow friends and neighbors. Join us as we call on state policymakers to ensure that SNAP is guaranteed for all.
FAQ (to come)
